Hi all!
Today, I’m so lucky to bring you a guest post by Chace Verity, the author of many queer books but most recently of Team Phison Forever, the sequel to their much beloved Team Phison!
Team Phison Forever is such a wonderful novel — it’s heartwarming and lovely, but it also has moments of angst and sadness, particularly when Tyson confronts his difficult past with his family. And while those scenes were heartbreaking, at the end, Tyson learns that he already has an incredible family that he found and he doesn’t need the affirmation of his birth family. His found family is supportive, queer as heck, and most importantly, they genuinely love him.
A million thanks to Chace for writing great post and for providing such amazing book recommendations for other novels with that fantastic found family trope.
Don’t forget to check out my 5-star review of Team Phison Forver, and check out the end of this post for buy links!
Family is complex. Even the best families have their problems.
But what do you do when you can’t reconcile your differences with the family you were born into? What if it becomes too dangerous to stay in a toxic environment?
The central theme in Team Phison Foreveris family. Tyson discovers a half-sister he never knew he had and struggles with the fact his parents disowned him years ago. How can he believe this new member of his family wants him when his parents didn’t?
Due to all the pain he’s suffered from his parents, Tyson isn’t easily able to accept that he has a large found family. He has his boyfriend, his best friend, his coworkers–so many people who love him and want him to be happy.
I love reading about found families in books, especially books with queer characters. While Tyson wasn’t disowned because of his sexuality, it’s not a coincidence his found family consists of mostly queer people. Queer folks have mastered the art of creating their own families, regardless of why they became estranged from their blood relatives in the first place.
Ultimately, I hope Team Phison Foreverwill be a book that helps people heal who might be struggling with embracing their found families. (And if you like Team Phison Forever’s message and are interested in fantasy, you might want to add my upcoming summer release to your TBR…!) I hope everyone understands that they don’t have to remain in toxic families or forge on alone if tragedy or death takes their family away.
Other books about found families that I enjoyed:
RoAnna Sylver’s Chameleon Moon
An utter legend in the world of found families–queer dystopian tale with an ever-growing polyamorous family. The first book in this series draws you in immediately.
Shira Glassman’s The Second Mango
It’s such a joy to watch Queen Shulamit’s family grow over the Mangoverse series, but her sisterly relationship with Rivka will always leave me breathless. Even the cover depicts Shulamit and Rivka together, rather than showcasing Shulamit with her future love interest.
Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time: An Indigenous LGBT Sci-Fi Anthology
Several stories in this marvellous collection edited by Hope Nicholson depict found families, but Daniel Heath Justice’s “The Boy Who Became Hummingbirds” is especially memorable when it comes to that theme.
Michelle Osgood’s The Better to Kiss You With
Deanna’s friendship with Nathan is just as compelling as her romance with Jamie in the first book of this geeky shifter series.
(My last rec is not exactly a book starring queer characters, although one of the side characters is pansexual, but since the author is bi, I really wanted to mention this.)
Dahlia Adler’s Last Will and Testament
When a college student loses her parents suddenly and becomes the legal guardian for her two younger brothers, Lizzie’s friends and love interest are quick to help.
Tyson Falls is ready to get married. After being disowned by his parents, his adorably grumpy boyfriend has made cautiously optimistic Tyson embrace the concept of family again. Armed with a ring and the newest video game, Tyson has plans for the nerdiest proposal.
Life throws a wrench in Tyson’s plans when he meets someone online during a multiplayer match. Someone that makes him rethink if he’s ready to start a family—the half-sister he never knew he had.
With the harsh reminder of how messy families can be, Tyson plunges headfirst into despair. Phil doesn’t deserve to be dragged into such a terrible bond. As Tyson wades through trauma and tries to push away the concept of family, he keeps turning to the man he loves most—the person who challenges him to redefine family.
Buy links:
Chace Verity (she/they) is publishing queer as heck stories with a strong romantic focus, although friendships and found families are important too. Chace prefers to write fantasy but dabbles in contemporary and historical fiction as well. An American citizen & Canadian permanent resident, Chace will probably never be able to call a gallon of milk a “four-liter.”
thebookcorps 
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